The present invention relates generally to an underwater electrical power generator deployment and retrieval system. More specifically, the present invention relates generally to a generator deployment and retrieval system that allows marine power generators to be deployed into the water or retrieved from the underwater.
The demand for energy is increasing as more and more countries become developed. The search for alternative sources for generating power is stronger than ever. Geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro are just few of many different forms of alternative energy sources that are aimed to reduce undesired byproducts of the burning of fossil fuels, such as carbon monoxide. Marine current power is just one of many sources of alternative power generation. Advantages of using marine currents as a source of energy includes: the reliability of constantly moving marine currents; the high density of water vs. air resulting in reduced turbine blade diameters for similar power output; almost no visual pollution; no environmental impact even for large scale electricity generation operations, and usually a short distance for the marine-current-power generators to the existing electrical grid. Marine power provides a clean, practical, and renewable large scale electrical power and needs different supportive technologies. The present invention aims to deploy and retrieve marine power generators in a more efficient, safe, and cost-effective manner. Currently, the deployment and retrieval of marine power generators is a difficult and dangerous operation due to the large forces of waves and currents imposed on the generators during deployment and retrieval. Resultantly, people involved in the marine power generator deployment and retrieval processes could be badly injured or even killed, especially if safety precautions are not implemented. Also, marine power generators can be damaged or even lost during deployment and retrieval. The present invention allows users to safely and securely deploy and retrieve marine power generators during mild environmental conditions, adding safety and ease to the task.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an offshore power generator deployment and retrieval system that can safely and efficiently deploy and retrieve marine power generators.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide an offshore power generator deployment and retrieval system that includes an offshore site structure, a pair of vertical guide rails mounted to the side of the offshore site structure; a seabed guide rail system connected to vertical guide rail system on the seabed; separate locations for each individual offshore power generators called “parking spaces” that extend from the seabed guide rail system; vertical and seabed propulsion devices, to transport power generators onto the seabed; rail transfer elements, as a means to transfer the marine power generator between guide rails and parking spaces; securing devices that safely prevent the power generators from accidently detaching due to strong currents; and one or more cranes, to lift generators off their transport barges and onto the deck and to lower them and retrieve them.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a novel marine power generator deployment and retrieval system is provided. The novel marine power generator deployment and retrieval system includes an offshore site structure; rail systems connected to the offshore site structure; and propulsion devices, as means to transport the marine powered generators onto the seabed.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, a novel marine power generator deployment and retrieval system is provided. The novel marine power generator deployment and retrieval system includes an offshore site structure comprising at least one deck; a vertical guide rail system mounted to a lateral face of the offshore site structure; a seabed guide rail system connected to the pair of vertical guide rails; parking spaces extending from the seabed guide rail system; propulsion devices, to deploy the power generators to their parking space or to retrieve the power generators for maintenance; rail transfer elements, as a means to transfer the power generators between guide rails and parking spaces; at least one jacket; and at least one crane to lift or lower generators off or on to their transport barges and off or onto the deck and to lower or raise the generators into or out of the water using the guide rail system.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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The offshore site structure 1 further comprises a jacket 12, an at least one crane 13, and an at least one deck 11. The offshore site structure 1 serves as the main body of the invention that supports most of the components. At least one deck 11 will be mounted at the top of the structure, positioned in a way that creates a level surface to allow humans to perform the necessary operations for underwater electrical power generator deployment or retrieval. More than one deck can be included in the invention depending on the amount of supporting equipment needed to maintain the invention. Additionally, the deck may be used to support equipment necessary to transmit power from the generators to a land-based power plant. The jacket 12 of the offshore site structure 1 lies underwater on a seabed S and provides a sturdy foundation for the entire structure. The ideal seabed would be completely flat however that is not always the case. The jacket 12 may be altered to suit the underwater terrain. At least one crane 13 will be positioned on one of at least one deck 11, angly extending into the air and will serve to lift an underwater electrical power generator G off of transport barges and onto one of the decks and vice versa. At least one crane 13 may also be used to lift the underwater electrical power generator G directly on to the vertical propulsion device 4.
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To gain a better understanding of the present invention, the operation of the marine power generator deployment and retrieval system is described as follows. At least one crane 13 lifts the underwater electrical power generator G and sets said underwater electrical power generator onto the vertical propulsion device 4. The vertical securing element 3 engages the underwater electrical power generator G to prevent said underwater electrical power generator from detaching from the vertical propulsion device 4. The vertical propulsion device 4 then transports the underwater electrical power generator G down the pair of vertical guide rails 2. Once the vertical propulsion device 4 reaches the bottom of the vertical guide rails, the vertical securing element 3 disengages from the underwater electrical power generator G. One of the plurality of rail transfer elements 9 is used as means to relocate the underwater electrical power generator G from the vertical propulsion device 4 and onto the seabed propulsion device 6. The seabed rail securing element 7 securely engages the underwater electrical power generator G. At this point, the seabed propulsion device 6 may move to one of the plurality of parking spaces 8, travelling on the pair of horizontal guide rails. The seabed propulsion device 6 can reach different pairs of horizontal guide rails via the pair of interconnecting seabed rails 52. After reaching the desired parking space, the seabed propulsion device 6 halts and disengages the seabed rail securing element 7. A different one of the plurality of rail transfer elements 9 relocates the underwater electrical power generator G from the seabed propulsion device 6 and into the recessed area of the parking space. Finally, the parking space securing element secures the underwater electrical power generator G in the recessed space 81. The seabed propulsion device 6 then returns to its default position on the seabed rail system. Usually, the default position is at the bottom of the pair of vertical guide rails 2, ready to receive the next underwater electrical power generator G. The present invention can also retrieve underwater electrical power generators from the seabed S.
Another embodiment of the present invention increases the extraction of energy by attaching an at least one turbine 14 is mounted underwater on different lateral faces of the offshore site structure 1. Supporting equipment will be connected to each turbine and be used to monitor the activity of each turbine.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/367,991 filed on Jul. 27, 2010.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3756433 | Richins | Sep 1973 | A |
3993011 | Garland | Nov 1976 | A |
6733208 | Stockstill | May 2004 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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WO 2006125959 | Nov 2006 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120027524 A1 | Feb 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61367991 | Jul 2010 | US |